For photographer and creative director Dan Castano, good light isn’t just important at work, it’s non-negotiable at home. This week on our Home Life Series, we’re heading to Carlton to meet Dan, who shares her light-filled inner-city home with her partner Jonathan and dog, Bert.

Co-founder of creative production house Dazey Studio, Dan has spent years behind the camera noticing light, colour, texture and all the little details that make an image sing. At home, that eye comes through in a considered mix of mid-century Italian design, brutalist pieces, vintage finds and a standout Dean Norton mirrored artwork, all brought together over time.

Come inside, we’re having a snoop.

Hey Dan, thank you so much for welcoming us into your beautiful Carlton home. For those who may not know you, can you tell us a little about yourself and who you share your home with?

I live with my partner Jonathan and our dog Bert - he’s our son. I’m a photographer & creative director who co-runs an Australian Creative Production house called Dazey.

You’ve spent the last decade working across photography, creative direction, content and marketing, and now run your own creative studio and production company, Dazey Studio. Can you share what first drew you into the creative world, and what was the journey like getting to where you are today? 

I’ve always been creative and wanted to work in and around fashion, so I started shooting street style at Melbourne Fashion Week, taught myself how to use a camera, then started picking up work shooting fashion and influencers (during the hey day of Instagram) and then everything kind of snowballed from there and now we shoot all sorts of things from fashion to beauty to food and events.

When you first found this house, what was it about the space that made you fall in love with it, and was there a particular room or feeling that made you think, ‘this could be home’?

As soon as I walked in I loved how light and bright it was. For an inner-city house, it has so much natural light. A home with good natural light is non-negotiable for me, I can’t mentally function in a dark home.

Once you’d moved in, how did you approach making the house your own? Were there any changes, renovations or little tweaks you knew you wanted to make straight away?

I wanted to do everything, and still do! It’s about 30 years old, so in need of some basic updates, we’re about to do a full bathroom renovation, which I’m excited about.

But when we moved in we made a conscious decision to only bring in furniture pieces that we really love, so we’re trying to invest in good quality things that will last, and build our home slowly with more intent, rather than just rushing it all. 

There’s such a beautiful mix of designer pieces and found objects throughout the house. What eras, designers or interior styles are you drawn to, and where do you go hunting for those special one-off pieces?

I’m always drawn to mid-century Italian design and brutalist pieces. I love curated vintage stores, and regularly visit Smith St Bazaar, Angelucci for furniture, Secondi for lighting and Ma House Supply Store for decor.

Photography is all about noticing the little things - light, colour, texture and the way a space feels. Has working as a photographer changed the way you see your own home? Are there any particular details or moments of light that you especially love here?

Definitely. I follow the light even when in my home, so I’m usually in the room that has the sun coming through at any given time of the day. The mirrored artwork by Dean Norton is one of my favourite things in my home, as it reflects light so beautifully through the coloured mirror panels - he’s incredible, I’d have his pieces everywhere if I could!

You’re a Carlton local and spend plenty of time around the city through your work. If you had to give us your ultimate Carlton guide, where are you grabbing a coffee to go, where are you eating, and what are the spots you always find yourself returning to?

I love my coffees from Assembly (their shrubs is a summer fav too), Sunhands and the new Hectors on Lygon. For drinks and snacks, Bar Bellamy & Melitta Next Door are my local favs. Lunches on the run are always Masses Bagels or Aunties Dunplings. For something a little fancy, I love Bistra, Carlton Wine Room, Cordelia and Di Stasio, and for easy yummy pasta, Super Norma.